Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/229

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  • piece of the morion are particularly interesting as having been similarly

treated. Here it will be seen that the various foliated scrollwork is first incised with a graver, the leaves, etc., being afterwards plated with gold, a method that lends a greater sense of richness to the general effect than if gold azzimina alone had been used. The greater portion of the groundwork of the comb is thickly plated with gold. This gorgeous head-piece may well have had a great history; but, unfortunately, its past is unrecorded.

Fig. 1276. Morion

Probably German, about 1570-80. Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 411)

Our next illustration represents another product of Northern Italy, the work of an armourer-artist unknown and of somewhat later date than Picinino. This morion, once a treasured possession of the Meyrick Collection, is now to be seen in the Wallace Collection, No. 540 (Fig. 1275). The skull-piece has a high roped comb; the brim is strongly curved; the extreme edge is roped. The entire sides of the skull are decorated with oval panels, there being represented on the one side episodes of the Fall of Troy embossed in low relief and chased on the surface, on the other side the Rape of Helen. The